General Revenue Corporation or GRC is a debt collection agency which receives a lot of consumer complaints to our law firm for debt harassment. Find out who they are, why they might be calling, and how you can stop them.
General Revenue Corporation or GRC is an Ohio-based collection agency specializing in collecting student loan debt. GRC has received many consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) for activities such as inappropriate communication tactics or disclosing of information. If GRC has contacted you to discuss debt servicing, make sure you know your rights before responding.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), General Revenue Corporation is a legitimate collection founded and incorporated in Ohio in 1981. BBB opened its file on them in 1986. Listed as a collection agency, GRC services the greater Cincinnati area. Buzzfile estimates GRC’s annual revenue at $23.9 million and its staff at 480 people.
General Revenue Corporation offers debt collection for Federal Perkins Loans, the Family Federal Education Loan Program, institutional loan and tuition receivables, specialized loan programs, and miscellaneous accounts receivables and fees.
GRC is a “wholly-owned subsidiary of Navient Corporation and a member of Navient’s Collection Services.” Navient provides student loans for the Federal Department of Education. “GRC serves clients in the education and government industries,” with a “commitment to maximize cash flow on behalf of [their] clients.” GRC’s website makes a clear effort to highlight its “borrower-friendly approach [that] emphasizes the positive benefits of voluntary resolution.” However, it is difficult to reconcile GRC’s assurances that they are dedicated to “respecting borrower rights and dignity” with their contradictory view of education as a for-profit industry that requires their simultaneous dedication to ensuring “maximum cash flow” for clients. Their website does not include references to resources for consumers or consumer protection laws.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
The BBB has closed 89 complaints against GRC in the past three years, with 23 closed in the past twelve months. The eight negative reviews mostly indicate problems with communication tactics, including disclosing information to third parties and various forms of harassment. Since April 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has logged 26 complaints against GRC/Navient and allege violations such as illegal disclosure of information, failure to verify debts, and improper communication tactics. Justia lists at least 11 cases of civil litigation naming GRC as a defendant.
General Revenue Corporation
4660 Duke Drive, Suite 300
Mason, OH 45040-8466
Telephone: (800) 234-1472
Website: https://www.generalrevenue.com/contentsite/Default.aspx
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely GRC would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgement. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
Get Free BBB A+ Attorney. Call 475-277-1600 NOW
Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. You can sue a debt collector. Here are some Sample Complaints
In July 2015, in United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, a judge issued an Opinion in the matter of a plaintiff who brought a complaint against GRC for violating the FDCPA’s provisions prohibiting the use of false and misleading language in an effort to collect a debt. In her complaint, the plaintiff’s alleged violation occurred after she received a letter from General Revenue Corporation concerning a debt from her previous enrollment in an arts college. The letter contained, in part, the following language:
“Because you may be required to pay interest on the outstanding portion of your balance, as well as late charges and other charges that may vary from day to day, the amount required to pay your balance in full on the day you send payment may be greater than the amount stated here. If you pay the amount stated here, an adjustment may be necessary after we receive your payment. In that event, we will notify you of any adjustment in your balance. We encourage you to call General Revenue Corporation prior to making a
payment intended to pay your balance in full.”
The plaintiff argued that the letter violated the FDCPA prohibitions against abusive, deceptive, and unfair business practices by “(1) falsely representing that charges may be added to the consumer’s stated balances, (2) falsely stating that an adjustment may be necessary following payment in the amount stated on the letter, and (3) falsely suggesting that GRC might increase the amount owed.” The plaintiff argued specifically that by indicating they would increase or otherwise change the amount owed, they had violated the FDCPA by making “misleading and false representations and false threats,” and by failing “to properly disclose the amount of a debt.” General Revenue Corporation argued that so-called “safe harbor language” allows collectors to avoid liability by indicating that adjustments “may” be necessary. However, the judge indicated that because “courts in FDCPA cases will construe debt collection letters from the perspective of ‘the least sophisticated consumer,’” the language was confusing enough to constitute a violation.
Past Press Releases of Lawsuits Brought On By Lemberg Law
December 4, 2015. One of the central tenets of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is that debt-related information is personal and thus is supposed to remain confidential. When debt collection agencies cross the line and reveal personal information, it can be embarrassing to the consumer. That’s what a Lemberg Law client says happened to him.
Our client says that General Revenue Corporation, a debt collection agency, embarrassed him when it called his friend’s wife’s cell phone and asked after our client. When our client’s friend returned General Revenue Corporation’s call, the debt collection agency claimed that his friend was listed as a contact for our client. Even worse, the third party (and his wife) are not even relatives of our client.
The case, which was recently filed in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, charges General Revenue Corporation with violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by contacting third parties for purposes other than to obtain location information; by using false, deceptive, or misleading representation in connection with the collection of a debt; and by employing false and deceptive means to collect a debt. It asks for statutory damages of $1,000, plus other relief.
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
Consumers have reported this agency harassing them from the following numbers:
Yes. If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. Federal laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
You may have a case, if…
“I was almost going nuts receiving calls every afternoon from a person using profane language to push me to pay debts I don’t owe. Someone I trust referred me to Lemberg Law, and I don’t regret having contacted them. The attorneys were very kind and always available when I needed them.”
“Thank you for standing with me Lemberg Law. I was so afraid I could lose my job because of a caller who called my job number 4 hours straight back to back. He not only harassed and threatened me but also abused workmates who received the call when I wasn’t around. Since I solicited for your services, I’ve had a peace of mind, and I’m happy because of the few dollars I got as a settlement.”
Chances are good that we can help. Call us today and we’ll explain.
Share your story
Have you had a bad experience with this agency’s debt collectors? Sound off and share your experience with other visitors in the comment box below.
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
See more posts from Sergei Lemberg
They contacted me, asked for some personal ID info and did not state who they were prior to asking these questions. I told them I do not feel comfortable giving my information to someone who will not ID themselves or the organization they represent.
General Revenue Corporation started contacting my exes father saying I owe debts. I have not been or had any contact with my ex or his family in years yet this company continued to call them. They had been calling me multiple times a week. When the pandemic hit and all loans had been put aside, general revenue corporation continued to call me multiple times a week for their payment regardless of the fact that i told them I had lost my job because of the pandemic and brought up the fact that all other loan companies werent allowed to be collecting debt. They informed me they weren’t part of that and they need to collect. Regardless of me being out of a job I needed to pay them is what I was told. They continued asking me to pay them the full payment. They do not stop no matter what.
General Revenue Corporation just started contacting my current job …but they been contacting my past job. The amounts they say I owe is not correct and they refuse to submit me the proper paperwork proving I owe this debt! (I went to ITT and they are still in court for unlawful practices in our loan processes.)
General Revenue sent me a letter on 4-30-18 headed “Second Delinquency Notice”, stating I owe nearly $5000 including almost $500 in fees. (There was no “First Delinquency Notice”.) They stated the money was owed to the Attorney General of Ohio. They did not state what the money was supposedly owed FOR. I have not lived in Ohio for 6 years. They did not tell me how to find out what this bill is for. They did not tell be that I could dispute the “bill” or how to do so. They stated that if a judgement was obtained to collect this amount my wages and bank accounts may be attached and sheriff’s sale of my personal property may be held, and a foreclosure action against any real estate I own may be initiated. The letter includes, word-for-word, the paragraph about charges may vary etc. that your website above states a judge found to be misleading, and that implies that unless I pay immediately the amount owed will increase.
I looked up General Revenue on the internet and found that they and their parent company have multiple lawsuits against them by 3 states (including the one I live in) and a federal consumer protection agency. I concluded that they are crooks running a scam. I began receiving multiple phone calls every week which I did not answer. Several times they left voicemail messages.
At no time did the State Attorney General of Ohio try to contact me directly. This week, in September, I got a debt collection letter from an Ohio lawyer that had all the required information on it, which I used to call the state of Ohio. This alleged debt is for income tax supposedly owed for the year of 2013. I moved out of Ohio in 2012 after my employer fired me on my 60th birthday, and never returned. My house in Ohio was sold early in 2013 and I bought a house in PA, got a PA driver’s license, and titled my car in PA in 2013.
The Ohio Attorney General’s representative told me I had to call the federal IRS and get a “tax account transcript” from 2013 and send it to them to PROVE I don’t owe them any income tax. I tried to do this. You cannot get a tax transcript for any year before 2014. This is because the statute of limitations on that tax that Ohio claims is 3 years, and it has run out. Even if I had actually lived and worked in Ohio in 2013 and had owed them taxes, they could not collect it because they waited past the statute of limitations.
If Ohio wanted to contact me about this alleged debt, all they had to do was get my Pennsylvania address from my federal income tax information. This is what they already use on their residents to decide how much Ohio income tax a person owes.
I don’t know very many people, but in my small circle of acquaintances I already know a second person who moved out of Ohio in 2013 who has gotten this same collection letter.
The “honorable” (hah!) Mike DeWine, the Ohio Attorney General has hired a debt collection company known to be corrupt and dishonest, to harass people who moved out of state and frighten them into paying money they either do not owe at all, or that the state can’t collect because of the statute of limitation expiring.
When I said this to the representative of the Ohio attorney general’s office and asked why they had not just sent a letter to me themselves, which I would have known was genuine and would have responded to, she stated they had send a letter (this is in 2018 mind you) to my former address which was sold in 2013. If they could give my current address that they got off my current federal IRS form to General Revenue, they have no excuse. EXCEPT that they know very well they have waited too long to legally collect taxes from 2013 and are more likely to get it if General Revenue frightens the people Mike Dewine is harassing.
Please post this situation on your website comments so others who are being threatened to make them pay money they don’t owe will know what is going on.
Thank you.
I had them contact the agency where I volunteer and my aunt, both times saying it was urgent they get in touch with me.
I was contacted 3 times over the last 2 days, on three different phones. How they got all 3 of those numbers I have no idea. And the calls were concerning a woman I barely know. I have met her 4 or maybe 5 times. She is the sister to my ex-daughter-in-law. Since this women is hardly more than an brief acquaintance, and I have no tangible connection to her in my opinion, I feel it is bordering on stalking and criminal activity.
I have been trying to make a payment agreement with them and they’re not be g reasonable and saying if I do t pay 350 dollars then I won’t be In compliance. I can’t afford that much money a month and I’m not going to pay a lower amount and have it come up as I’m being non compliant
This company is contacting family members and non-family members informing and scaring them with my personal business w my student loan status.